Science as a Candle in the Dark
Diderot and Davy both use the metaphor that Carl Sagan uses for his book and Asimov also references.
Folksonomies: science metaphor
Science as a Candle in the Dark
I picture the vast realm of the sciences as an immense landscape scattered with patches of dark and light. The goal towards which we must work is either to extend the boundaries of the patches of light, or to increase their number. One of these tasks falls to the creative genius; the other requires a sort of sagacity combined with perfectionism.
Notes:
We must work to extend the patches of light, according to Denis Diderot.
Discoveries Open Doors to More Discoveries
Every discovery opens a new field for investigation of facts, shows us the imperfection of our theories. It has justly been said, that the greater the circle of light, the greater the boundary of darkness by which it is surrounded.
Notes:
Quote from Humphry Davy, "...the greater the circle of light, the greater the boundary of darkness by which it is surrounded."
Folksonomies: discovery